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Worst years for a Mercedes Benz SLK230

Owners have filed 190 complaints about the Mercedes Benz SLK230 with NHTSA across model years 1998 to 2004. More of them are about the lights than anything else.

Avoid

1999 Mercedes Benz SLK230

77 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly windows, mirrors & wipers.

Cleanest on record

2001 Mercedes Benz SLK230

41 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mercedes Benz SLK230 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2004 — 6 0 0 66,180 Electrical System
2001 B 41 1 0 53,075 Lights
2000 C 24 1 2 50,000 Lights
1999 D 77 6 1 66,500 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
1998 C 42 0 5 42,995 Lights

What breaks on a Mercedes Benz SLK230

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Lights 56 29.5%

Worst in 1999

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 34 17.9%

Worst in 1999

Electrical System 22 11.6%

Worst in 1999

Engine & Cooling 11 5.8%

Worst in 1998

Body & Structure 10 5.3%

Worst in 1998

Transmission & Drivetrain 8 4.2%

Worst in 1998

Fuel & Propulsion 8 4.2%

Worst in 1999

Brakes 7 3.7%

Worst in 2001

Stability & Traction Control 7 3.7%

Worst in 2001

Airbags 6 3.2%

Worst in 1998

Other & Unspecified 6 3.2%

Worst in 1999

Acceleration & Cruise Control 4 2.1%

Worst in 2001

Equipment & Accessories 4 2.1%

Worst in 1999

Tires 2 1.1%

Worst in 1999

Exactly what failed on a Mercedes Benz SLK230

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Brake Lights 34 47.9%
Tail Lights 11 15.5%
Rearview Mirrors/Devices 4 5.6%
Headlights 4 5.6%
Filler Pipe AND CAP 3 4.2%
Roof AND Pillars 3 4.2%
Interior 3 4.2%
Interior/Under Dash 3 4.2%
Body 3 4.2%
Automatic Transmission 3 4.2%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mercedes Benz SLK230, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Feb 1999 peak 7 Jul 2024

Compare the Mercedes Benz SLK230

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.

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